M-wolverine posted a few days ago an interview--from which this quote probably originated--about Barwis and his new venture in Plymouth, MI. True, there's a chance he's trying to make for good P.R. in the state, but I believe, based on his history, that his quotes are sincere and genuine. He certainly conducts himself like a Michigan Man would. I leave it to the mgoblog community though to determine if he actually is a Michigan Man (no RR-flame wars wanted. thanks).

"It definitely exposed me to connections with some really good people in a community that was not within my field — that's something that's really blossomed," Barwis said. "It was a neat experience to be able to meet good people who are great Michigan supporters and ended up becoming really good friends. Those relationships are something I've never had a lot of because I was always so involved with the athletes, but Michigan is really unique that way."

I'm with you. I thought during the whole Rodriguez firing/Hoke hiring that everyone got sick of hearing "Michigan Man" all the time. It's overplayed, pretty meaningless, and a term people throw around as a lazy way of arguing some point.

always get connected to only Michigan? The absolute shortest period of his life was at Michigan. He had more time at Harvard for school and taught for longer at UCLA. He didn't live in Michigan, he wasn't born there... I just don't get it, but he will forever be named a Michigan grad when someone talks about him.

Ornery, I actually agree with you. I neg people on sight who seriously use the term "Michigan Man." Just for reference, I attended Michigan, but I think it's arrogant and stupid to think that there is something intrinic in men of the university which makes them better people. Honestly, Rodriguez needed to go but I'm always irritated that the "NOT A MICHIGAN MAN" crowd thinks they won.

I don't think it's as arrogant as that. It's a term, it's alliterative shorthand. It's just a compliment; see also:

"Steely-eyed missile man"

"He's good people"

"Harvard Material"

"true patriot" (gag)

Sure, it's vague; It's not like "Eagle Scout" where one fulfills a series of requirements and someone officially signs off on it and we all agree what it is and whether he IS one. It's a loose concept and hard to pin down, but that doesn't mean we can't nod and get what a speaker means when he uses it.

If Michigan Man were, in fact, a comic book character, who would he fight? Every good comic book has an eternal struggle against a primary villain or a clan of evil doers. Would it be The Golden Domers? Perhaps simply, The Vest? Or since The Vest may be vanquished soon, they might turn their attention to a new plot arc, the newly introduced Children of the Corn?

throw a dedicated, albeit odd, fan under the bus like that. But yes, I'd rather have "Michigan Man" look like wolverine than the other guy ...

I still wish the notion of a Michigan man would be explored and remember it had everything to do with a guy who didn't want to coach at Michigan anymore, but took the money and ran to the desert. That's all. A Michigan man was someone employed by the U that wasn't looking at other jobs. No more, no less.